Gatton league stars ready to shine on the international stage

Fresh off defending the Toowoomba Rugby League women’s premiership two Gatton Hawks players are ready to shine on the world stage. Read the dynamic duos stories here.

LEAGUE: Friends will become rivals when Nicole Gusman and Natalia Webb next lace up their footy boots.

The talented duo, who played key roles in Gatton’s TRL Women’s premiership defence, will square off on the international stage later this month.

Gusman will run out for Malta against Webb, who will be making her debut for the Philippines.

“It’s really exciting – the club is very proud of what all our girls have achieved this year,” Gatton women’s coach Dom Haak said.

“The whole squad has worked really hard.

“We won a premiership, we’ve had under-19 Queensland representatives and now we have players like Nicole and Natalia playing international.

“They (Gusman and Webb) are great athletes and people, they’ve both worked hard for this opportunity, and I think it’s a great example of how much the women’s game is developing.

“A few years ago these opportunities were not there – I think it will be fantastic to see where the game is in four or five years.”

Gatton Hawks player Nicole Gusman in action for Malta.

Nicole Gusman

Gusman’s journey to the international stage has been bittersweet.

The former Australian athletics rep star first tried her hand at league in 2020, trialling with clubs in Brisbane, before Covid curtailed her plans.

In March this year she picked up the game again – playing for Gatton Hawks and in Australian Defence Force teams.

“It was my dad who suggested I should try rugby league in 2020,” she said.

“I grew up competing in track and field but dad and I shared a passion for rugby league.

“He loved league and we would watch the NRL all the time.”

Gusman, who captained Malta’s first ever women’s team earlier this year, qualified for selection through her dad who was born in Malta.

Unfortunately her father never had the opportunity to see her play for Malta.

“Dad was really proud of his Maltese heritage,” she said.

“As a promise to my grandad and to him my brothers represent Malta in athletics but dad never had the chance to see me play.

“He suffered a stroke this earlier year and after weeks in a coma he passed away.

“It was a real shock, he was always fit and healthy, and it happened so suddenly.

“It’s been a really tough year and I stopped playing footy because I was there by his side in hospital most of the time.

“I actually thought about not playing for Malta but in the end I knew dad would’ve wanted me to and I wanted to make my family proud.

“That first game was bittersweet, they made me captain for the game, the team wore black armbands and held a minute’s silence before the game, it was pretty special.”

Looking to the future Gusman is glad she is helping growing the game.

“A few years ago if you didn’t make the Australia team that was it,” she said.

“Now with competitions like the NRLW and World Cup expanding in 2025 there are so many opportunities for women to play league – it’s pretty amazing.

“Hopefully other female players will see these games and be inspired to have a go themselves.”

Natalia Webb in action for Gatton. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Natalia Webb

There are a number of striking similarities between Webb and her Gatton Hawks teammate Gusman.

Webb, like Gusman, had a strong background in athletics before trying her hand at league a few years.

After debuting for Warwick in last year’s Toowoomba Rugby League women’s competition, Webb joined the Hawks this year and continued her rapid rise through the playing ranks.

“I played a little bit of league in high school and enjoyed it,” Webb, 22, said.

“When I heard Warwick were putting together a team last year I thought why not give it a go.

“I really love the physicality of the game.

“I’m naturally a little bit aggressive when I play so it’s good to be able to go out there and run at players and tackle.”

Webb, whose mother and grandmother were born in the Philippines, was initially hesitant to make the ‘step up’.

The opportunity to play international football and potentially inspire other female players however was too hard to pass up.

“I wasn’t sure about playing at first,” she said.

“I eventually came around to the idea though.

“Being able to represent my mother, grandmother, our family and heritage was too hard to pass up.

“I want to make them proud.

“It will be a really good opportunity to see where I am at as a player as well.

“There are a few NRLW girls in both sides and I can’t wait to see how where I am compared to them.”